Tumbler handling apparatus



y 2, 1940- H. E. SCHUTZ El Al. 2,206,267

TUIBLER HANDLING APPARATUS Filed-Oct. 26, 1957 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 40D J f1. Zieece 11v VENTORS 'ATT/YEKS H. R. SCHUTZ ET AL 2,206,267

TUIBLER HANDLING APPARATUS Filedbct. 26, 1937 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTO NE KS YZ, 1940. H. R. scH u'rz ET AL 2,206,267

TUIBLEB HANDLIKG APPARATUS BY 6 4 7 o Arr ays y H. R. SCHUTZ El Al. 2,206,267

TUIBLER HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 26, 1937 7 Sheets-Shet 4 INVENTORJ BY u/ 7 w ATTOR Y6 y 2, 1940 H. R. SCHUTZ ET AL.

TUNBLER HANDLING APPARATUS 7 heet 5 Filed Oct. 26. 1937 z? Tkeec m x a IN VENTORS H. R. scHu'rz E! A]. 2,2@6,27 TUIIBLER HANDLING APPARATUS Filedoct. 26, 1937 7 Sheets-Sheet a 11f]. 1%eece/ 11v VENTORS BY 7' A7 ATTO 145 July 2, 1940;

H. R. scHuTz El AL.

' TUIIBLER HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 26, 19:57

7 Sheets- Sheet 7 Patented July 2, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE A 2,206,267 TUMBLER HANDLING, APPARATUS Harold R. Schutz and Jesse H. Treece, Toledo, Ohio, assignors to Libbey Glass Company, a cor 6 poration of Ohio Application October 26, 1937, Serial No. 171,109 6 7 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in apparatus for transferring tumblers from which moile hasbeen removed in a rotary burnoif machine, from the machine to an adjacent chucks which receive therein the inverted unfinished tumblers having moile thereon. At a predetermined point in the circular path of move- 15, ment of the chucks and burners, the tumblers l are lowered by the chucks into the region of the respective burners and themoile is burned off.

The moile-free tumblers are again elevated and conducted, during the remainder of their circular 20 travel, in the machine, to a discharging zone where they are released by the chucks and dropped by gravity in their inverted position onto a series of fpegs carried by a rotary peg table, constituting a takeout device, by means 25 of which they are moved clear of theburn-off machine. In the operation of the apparatus just described, it is required that an operator be stationed at the discharge region of the burn-off machine to remove the inverted tumblers from 30 the rotary peg, table and place the same on a conveyor in an upright position preparatory to conveying the same to an annealing leer.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a rotary pegtable of the general 35 type set forth above which will dispense with the necessity of employing an operator at the discharging zone of the burn-off machine for the purpose of upending the tumblers and transferring the same to the leer conveyor by perform: 40 ing that operation automatically. Toward this end, the invention contemplates the provision of a transfer apparatus of the type just referred to which operates to receive; the inverted tumblers from which moile has beenremoved and upend.

the sameautomatically andplace the same in an upright position on a moving leer conveyor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a transfer apparatus which, by a relatively simple adjustment or series of adjustments, is adapted 50 for use with various sizes of burn-off machines, or for use with the same machine when accom: modatingtumblers of different sizes.

. Another object of the invention is to provide a novel form of chute by means of which the 55 tumblers are transferred by gravity from the peg fer apparatus showing the same operatively as- (01. 198-25) table to theleer conveyor and which is adjustable both as to height and inclination to accommodate diiferent sizes of tumblers issuing from the peg table. l I v 6 Other objects of the invention, not at this 5 following description ensues.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan. view of the transfer appaftime enumerated, will become apparent as the ratus, together with a chute designed for cooperl0.

ation therewith in conveying warefrom a burnoif machine to a leerconveyor;

Fig. 2 is a, vertical sectionalview of the transsociated with a burn-off machine; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken through one of the ware supporting heads employed in connectionwith the present invention; i

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially alongthe lined-4, of Fig.3; 1 Fig. 5 is a fragmentary front elevational view showingone of the ware supporting heads; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary top plan view showing one of the ware supporting heads swung outof its normal radial alignment;

Fig. '7 is a side elevational view of a chuteemployed in connectionwith the present invention and showing the same operatively associated with v the transfer apparatus and leer conveyor;

Fig. 8 is an end elevational view of the chute; Fig. 9 is an end elevational; view similar to Fig. 8 but taken from a different angle, namely, the angle of inclination of the chute trough; Fig. 10 is a plan view, diagrammatic in its representation, of the. burn-off machine, transfer apparatus, chute, and annealing leer, showing the operative relation each' bears to the others; Fig. 11 is a sectional viewtaken substantially along the line ll--Il of Fig. 2; 3

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 2, omitting the burn-oil machine, and showing a modified form of ware supporting head;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken substantially 5 along the line l3l3 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a front elevationalview of the head shown in Fig.12; f l 6 Fig. 15 is a sectionaliview taken substantially along the line l5-l5 of Fig. 14; and

ended tumbler thereon.

Referring particularlyto Fig. 10 wherein the relation of burn-off machine, transfer apparatus', leer conveyor and chute is diagrammatically represented, the tumblers T having moile thereon and issuingfrom a forming machine (not shown) are received at the burn-off machine B on a conveyor 29 and are placed in the burn-off machine by an operator.

Briefly, the burn-off machine B herein disclosed (which forms no part of the present invention and for which no claim 'to' novelty is made) is designed to remove moile from the tumblers T and comprises a central column 2t 7 (see also Fig. 2) having mounted thereon a rotatable carriage 22 upon which there are supported a series of vertically adjustable circumferentially spaced burners 23, above which are positioned and aligned therewith respective vertically movable chucks 24 which receive therein the unfinished tumblers T having moile thereon in an inverted position. point in the circular path of movement of the chucks 2d and burners 23, the tumblers are lowered bythe chucks into the region of the respective burners and the moile is burned off. The inverted tumblers are again elevated and are conducted, during the remainder of their travel in themachine, to a transfer zone Z Where they are released by the chucks 24'. V

Still referring to- Fig. 10, upon release of the inverted tumblers T from the burn-off machine B, the former fall by gravity onto a series of supports 25, commonly referred to aspegs carried by a rotary transfer table or peg table 26, forming a part of .a transfer apparatus comprising the present invention, and by means of which the tumblers are partially upended and deposited in a chute 2? from whence they are deposited in .an upright position on a leer conveyor "28 for transfer to an annealing leer 29.

Ina modified form of the invention illus trated in Figs. 12 to 16 inclusive, the inverted tumblers T are delivered by the burn off machine to a series of supports 25 or pegs carried by a transfer table 26 by means of which the tumblers are completely upended and deposited directly on the leer conveyor 28'.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, the transfer table 26 or peg table is rotatably mountedupon a central column 38 which is anchored by means of set screws 32 in a bracket 33 which is secured to the base 34 of the'burn-off machine B. A driving sleeve 35 surrounds the column 36, is slightly spaced therefrom, and is provided at its lower end with a sprocket 36 drivenby a chain 3'! from a sprockettt which in turn is driven from the driving gear id of the burn-off machine B. A stationary bearing block ll secured to the bracket 33 is provided with a threaded, liner t2 which threadedly receives. therein a sleeve it having aspanner head M thereon by lmeans of which the elevation of the sleeve it may be adjusted. A support $5 for the peg table 28 v surrounds the driving sleeve 35 and is supported on the upper end of the threaded sleeve d3. R0

tation of the support is prevented by means of a guide pin Mi which extends into the bearing block 4! and which projects upwardly therefrom and is slidably received in a vertical bore ll formed in the support 45.

The transfer table proper 28 is rotatably supported on the support i5 and is keyed to the drivingsleeve 35 for, rotation therewith. A plurality of peg carrying heads 48 are uniformly spaced about the periphery of the table 25 in radial fashion and are adapted for succe'ssive co-v operation with the respective heads (i.. e. the

At a predetermined V v burners 23 and chucks- 2d) of the burn-off machine B at the transfer zone Z.

Each head 48 (Figs. 2 to 6 inclusive) comprises a bracket 50 having a bearing sleeve 5!, provided and connected, by means of a pin Bil which passes through a slot iii in the casing 54, to a plunger 62 which is slidably disposed within the casing 54. A coil spring 63 serves to normally maintain the plunger 62 extended from the casing 54. A cam roller t l mounted on the free end of the plunger 62 bears against a stationary arcuate cam plateBS (Figs. 2 and 11) which is adjustably secured to the support G5 by means of clamping bolts 66 which extend through slots 67 formed in the same. The tumbler support 25 (Fig. 3) comprises a hollow spindle 68 the lower end of which is pinned to the rock-shaft 55. if cushioning member 69, preferably having a heat resisting surface of asbestos or the like, is provided with a shank '58 which is yieldably and slidably mounted within the spindle 83. A centering member H is mounted on the spindle t8 medially thereof and is preferably formed of carbon orother heat resisting material. The inverted tumblers T issuing from the chucks 2 3 of the burn-off machine B are received over the cushioning members 69 with the'rim thereof surrounding the centering members 69 as illustrated in Fig.2.

Referring'nowto Figs. 3, 5 and 6, the-bearing sleeve has formed thereon an abutment l2 designed to be engaged by an adjustable limit stop it on the casing 56 to determine the normal radial position of the head. The upper end of the rock-shaft 53 has secured thereto a torque member M and a torque spring '15 has its upper end secured to the torque member while the lower end thereof is anchored in the bearing cap 52. By'such a construction, the casing 54 and plunger 52 are normally and yieldingly main tained in their radial positions.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that in the transfer of the tumblers T from the chucks 24 of the burn-off machine B, the upright supports 25 orpegs are moved successively beneath the respective chucks 2 1 and between the chucks.

manner previously set forth. Should for any reason whatsoever a particular tumbler fail to be completely" released by its chuck it and depend'into the path of one of the pegs 25, or should a tumbler be prematurely released by its chuck andfall on the burner 23, the peg 25, upon striking the tumbler will cause the entire swinging portion of the head #3 to swing out of its normal position of radial alignment against the action of the spring 15 and clear the tumbler. Likewise, should an operator of'the burn-off rnachine, or other person, or any object, whether in thevicinity of the burn-off machine or anywherein the'path of travel of the heads [58, come into contact with the peg 25 or its supporting casing 54, the peg and supporting casing 54 will be moved from its position of radial alignment as shown in Fig. 6 to clear the obstruction.

It will be seen from an inspection of Fig. 7

that at a predetermined zone in the path of rotationof the heads 48, the pegs become inclined beyond the horizontal in such a manner that the tumblers T carried thereby are deposited by gravity in the chute 2l, previouslyreferred to, and are conducted thereby to the leer conveyor 28. Toward this end, the cam rollers 54 and plungers 62 carried by each head 48 move in a clockwise direction as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 11 and, from the time the heads travel in a circular path fromthe transfer zone Z until thecam rollers 64 engage the stationary cam plate 65, the pegs 25 remain upright with the tumblers T thereon. At a point 49 on the cam plate 65, the cam rollers64 engage the cam plate and commence to be moved outwardly from the center of the axisof revolution of the heads 49. This outward movement of the rollers Gil con tinues gradually from the point 49 to a point 76 on the cam plate 65 during which time the plungers 62 are slowly moved into the casing 54 (Fig. 3) thus causing the pegs 25 and tumblers thereon to gradually incline toward the horizom tal in the manner previously described. At the point 16, the rollers 64 encounter a relatively sharp incline and, in moving from the point 76 to a point", the pegs 25 become inclined beyond the horizontal in such a manner that the turnblers T thereon slide by gravity onto the chute Q 21. Ata point 18, the rollers 64 encounter a relatively sharp reverse incline and, in moving to a point 19, the plungers 62 are again extended from the casing 54 torestore thepegs 25 to an upright position preparatoryto arriving at the transfer zone Z. l i

In the normal operation of the burn-off machine (Fig. 2), if the tumblers T are relatively deep, the level of the adjustable burners 23 will be comparatively lower than if the tumblers are relatively shallow. In order to insure maximum eificiency in the transfer of the tumblers to the pegs 25, it is necessary to adjust thelevel of the transfer table 26 or peg table by means of the spanner head 44 in the manner previously described sothat the pegs 25 will not only clear the burners 23 and tumblers T, but will also pass beneath the chucks 24 at a predetermined distance therebelow. To secure the proper relation between the pegs 25, burners 23, chucks 24 and tumblers T, it may also be necessary, especially where chucksof extremely large or small dimensions are substituted in the burn-01f machine,

to substitute correspondingly longer or shorter.

pegs 25 in the transfer apparatus as the case may require. Irrespective however of these details in practice, the essential features of the invention are always preserved.

Referring to Fig. 7, if the level of the peg table.

26 andpegs 25 carried thereby is relatively high,

as for example where smallsize tumblers are be ing removed from the burn-off machine, conditions require that the level of the chute 21 be comparatively high. In the transfer of larger size tumblers, both the level of the peg table 26 and of the chute 21 will be correspondingly lower. Furthermore, where small size tumblers are inthe process of transfer, the inclination of the chute 21 from the horizontal must be comparatively steeper than where larger size tumblers which are heavier are being transferred, since in any instance the gravitational pull on the tumblers must be sufficient not only to overcome the ment out of its normal radial direct the tumblers T into engagement with a roller 82 suspended in a bracket 83 mounted on a support 84 on the annealing leer129. The roller 82occupies a position on the far side of the leer conveyor 28 in the path of the oncoming tumblers and is adapted to be successively engaged by the base portions of the tumblers is suing from the chute 2'! to complete the upending operation of the tumblers and direct the upended tumblers onto the leer conveyor 28. The moving leer conveyor 29 serves to string out, align and space the tumblers transversely of the leer 29 and, when a series of the tumblers have been so strung out, aligned and spaced across the leer entrance, the series is bodily shifted as a unit by a conventional leer loader (not shown) into the leer and is deposited on the leer belt which is diagrammatically illustrated at 89.

i The lower casting 8| .of the chute 21 is pivoted as at 85 to a vertically adjustable block 86 and the inclination of the casting 8| may be adjusted onthe block 89 by means of a clamping bolt Bl which extends through a slot 89 provided in the casting. The upper casting 89 is pivoted as at 99 to the lower casting 8| and the inclination of this 96:for the leer conveyor 28 for lateral adjustment.

thereon. A spacing bolt 91, extending between theblock 86 and a stationary part of the bracket 94, permits accuracy of adjustment of the height of the block 86.

The upper and lower castings 80 and 8| respectively of the chute 21 are generally of V- shape in cross section in the trough portions thereof and each is lined with a suitable heatresistant material 98 such as asbestos. The

upper casting 80 tapers as at 99 in the trough portion thereof toward a common axis and terminates ,well within the radial sweep of the partially upended pegs 25 and tumblers T thereon.

In themodified form of the invention shown in Figs. 12 to 16 inclusive, the general characteristics of the transfer table 26", the support 45 therefor, the driving sleeve guiding means 46', 41, and otherassociated parts including the driving mechanism for the central column 39' remain substantially the sameas in the form of the invention disclosed in the foregoing Figs.

l to 11 inclusive. In the latter form of the invention, a modified form of peg carrying head 48" is disclosed, by means of which the tumblers T are received from the burn-01f machine at the transfer, zone Z and are deposited directly on the leer conveyor 28.

The head 48' comprises a casing 54' suspended from a bracket 59 which is for swingingmoveposition in identically the same manner that the casing 54 (Fig. 3) is suspended from the bracket 50. A rockshaft I09 (Fig.15) journaled in bearings MI in the casing 54 projects from one end of the casing and has secured thereto a bracket IIDZ provided with an extension I93 on which the tumbler support 25 or peg is mounted. The rock-shaft mt has mounted thereon within the casing 5d a pinion Hid (Figs. 13 and 14) which meshes with a gear segment M5 mounted on a shaft me which is journaled for rocking movement in bearings lll'l carried by a sleeve m8 formed on a lateral extension M39 of the casing 54 The shaft N28 is provided with a crank arm H6] provided with an eccentric cam roller H! which is guided between upper and lower arcuate cam members H2 secured to the support 45. A coil spring H3 (Figs. 12 and l3)- connected at one end toa stationary bracket ll l' secured to the extension 588, and connected at its other end to a pin 5 i5 secured in thegear segment I 85, serves to normally maintain the shaft Hill in an initial position. An adjustable abutment H6 mounted on the crank arm HE! is adapted to engage a limit stop i ll on the casing till to determine the initial position ofthe shaft we. The initial position of the shaft ldii just referred to is such that the peg 25 will be substantially vertical in order that upon revolution of the heads ll! about the central column 3t the pegs 225' will pass between the chucks 24 and burners 23 (Fig. 2) of the burn-off machineB to receive the inverted tumblers T thereon.

The nature of the upper and. lower cam. members H2 is such that upon rotation of the transfer table 26, the elevation of the cam rollers MI is varied in such a manner that as the individual heads d8 approach the leer conveyor 28, the shaft W0 is rocked about its axisand assumes the extreme inverted position illustrated in Fig. 12 when the heads it overlie the leer conveyor.

In order to maintain the tumblers T on the pegs 25 after the latter have become inclined beyond the horizontal, the bracket it? (Figs. 12 to 16 inclusive) is provided with a lateral extension ll8 having a sleeve H9 at its outer end in which there is journaled' a rock-shaft I20. The, rock-shaft lit) extends parallel to the axis of the peg 25 and carries at its free end a finger 12 i which is adjustably clamped thereto and which, upon rocking movement of the shaft E20, is adapted to be moved over the end of the peg to retain the tumbler T thereon. The shaft E26 has secured thereto on opposite sides of the sleeve llficollars I22 and I23. The collar I22 has formed thereon a lug 52% which is connected to one end of a coil spring M5, the other end of the spring being connected to a pin I25 secured in the extension M33. The collar I23 has formed thereon a radially extending arm l'Z'l on which there is mounted a cam roller l28 designed for engagementwith a cam member l29 which is adjustably secured to the casing 54" by means of clamping bolts 53d extending through a slot l3! formed in the cam member 1129.

The nature of the cam member 11281 is such that when the peg 25 occupies an upright vertical position as shown in Figs. 13 and 14, the tumbler retaining finger i2! is maintained by the action of the coil spring l25 (Fig. 16) is an operative position. However, when the peg 25 be: comes inclined and approaches the horizontal, the cam roller H23 rides upwardly on the cam member 129 and the finger ilil moves into tumbler retaining position with the tumbler resting thereagainst and partially supported thereon until the peg 25" assumes an inverted vertical position at which time the tumbler is released by the finger I21 which returns to its inoperative position due to the cam roller I28 moving downwardly on the cam l29 under the influence of the spring I25. The tumbler T carried on the peg 25' is thus released and by gravity falls directly onto the leer conveyor 28' from whence it is ultimately transferred tothe leer by means of the leer loader previously referred to.

Modifications'may be resorted to within the spirit of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A device for transferring tumblers and like articles comprising a plurality of vertically disposed arms mounted for revolution about a vertical axis, said arms being adapted to loosely receive thereover the articles in an inverted position at a receiving zone, said arms each being pivoted for individual swinging movement in a vertical plane, means operable upon revolution of said arms for causing the same to become inclined beyond the horizontal in their respective planes of swinging movement to discharge the articles thereon by gravity, and means for revolving said series of arms about the vertical axis.

2. A device for transferring tumblers and like articles comprising a p-luralityof vertically disposed arms mounted for revolution about a vertical axis, said arms being adapted toloosely receive thereover the articles in an inverted position at a receiving zone, said arms each being pivoted for individual swinging movement in a vertical plane, means operable upon revolution of said arms for causing the same to become inclined beyond the horizontal in their respective planes of swinging movement to discharge the articles thereonby gravity, means for raising or lowering the level of said arms simultaneously, and means for revolving said series of arms about the vertical axis.

3. A device for transferring tumblers and like articles comprising a plurality of vertically disposed arrns mounted for revolution about a vertical axis, said arms being adapted to loosely receive thereover the articles in an inverted position at a receiving zone, said arms each being pivoted for individual swinging movement in a vertical plane passing through said vertical axis, means operable upon revolution of said arms for causing the same to become inclined beyond the horizontal in their respective planes of swinging movement to discharge the articles thereon by gravity, and means for revolving said series of arms about the vertical axis.

4. A device for transferring tumblers and like articles comprising a plurality of vertically disposed arms mounted for revolution about a vertical axis, said arms being adapted to loosely receive thereover the articles in an inverted position at a receiving zone, said arms each being pivoted for individual swinging movement in a vertical plane passing through said vertical axis, means operable upon revolution of said arms for causing the same to become inclined beyond the horizontal in their respective planes of swinging movement to discharge the articles thereon by gravity, means for raising or lowering the level of said arms simultaneously, and means for revolving said series of arms about the vertical axis.

5. A device for transferring tumblers and like articles comprising a carriage mounted for rotation about a vertical axis, a plurality of armsupporting members pivoted to the carriage at spaced points near the periphery of the same,

means yieldingly maintaining said members 7 parallel with said vertical axis, an arm pivoted to each member for swinging movement in a vertical plane, said arms normally occupying, sub-' stantially upright positions and being adapted to reecive loosely thereover the inverted articles at a receiving zone, means operable upon rotation of the carriagefor causing the arms to become inclined beyond the, horizontal in their respective ing thecarriage. 3

planes of swinging movement to discharge the articles thereon by gravity, and means for rotat- 6. In a tumbler transfer apparatus, a spider mounted for rotationabout a verticalaxis, a

plurality of arms extending radially from the spider, a rack radially slidable on each arm, cam

means controlling the radial movements of said rack, a yieldable lost motion device connecting said cam means and the rack, a pinion mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis and meshing 7. In a tumbler transfer apparatus, a spider mounted for rotation about a vertical axis, a plurality, of arms extending radially from the spider, a rack radially slidable on each arm, cam means controlling the radial movements of said rack, a pinion mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis and meshing with the rack, a tumbler supporting arm connected to the pinion and movable therewith from a substantially upright position to a position inclined beyond the horizontal, and means for rotating the spider about the vertical axis.

HAROLD R. scHU'rz. JESSE H. TREECE. 

